Frankenstein: The 1818 Text

This original version of Frankenstein preserves the bold, politically charged themes and sharp wit that defined Shelley’s earliest vision—along with the powerful female voice often softened in later editions. This edition also highlights Shelley’s deep connection to her mother, pioneering feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. 

This special edition features a new introduction and recommended reading by National Book Critics Circle Award–winner and Shelley scholar Charlotte Gordon, selected literary excerpts and contemporary reviews curated by Gordon, and a detailed chronology and essay by renowned Shelley expert Charles E. Robinson.